Compact protocol and solution for substantially offline messaging between portable consumer device and based device

ABSTRACT

A method for providing messaging between a portable device and base device is provided. The method includes communicating one or more message codes maintained in the portable device to the base device. The base device then composes a message for a user of the portable device using a dictionary of message codes. The message codes have corresponding message values, which are used to generate the message for the one or more message codes. The generated message is then provided to the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to communications between aportable device and a base device. More specifically, the presentinvention relates to a method and system for providing storage anddisplay of transactional messages using message codes communicated froma portable device to a base device.

With the continuing demand for using information to provide enhancedconsumer experience, base devices and portable devices may be leveragedto provide a personalized experience for a consumer during a purchasetransaction at a merchant. For example, a loyalty program may beprovided where consumers are awarded incentives for shopping at certainmerchants that participate in the loyalty program. As part of theloyalty program, merchants can use portable devices, such as smartcards,and/or base devices, such as point-of-sale (POS) devices, to keep trackof the activities of various consumers and accordingly offer targetedadvertising and sale offers to such consumers. As a result, the use of aloyalty program is a powerful tool that may increase consumer loyalty bygiving consumers added incentive to continue shopping at merchantsparticipating in the loyalty program.

The effectiveness of the loyalty program may be affected by the abilityto communicate with the consumer during the transaction. Thus, in orderto more fully increase the effectiveness of the loyalty program,information relating to a consumer's participation in the loyaltyprogram needs to be communicated to the consumer in a fast and efficientmanner, preferably, at the point-of-sale. Typically, such information isconveyed to a consumer in the form of messages displayed via a basedevice. Since the duration of a point-of-sale transaction is relativelyshort and a consumer typically does not want to wait for a message abouta loyalty transaction for an extended period of time, messages intendedfor the consumer involved in a loyalty transaction need to be rapidlycreated and provided to the consumer. The longer it takes to create amessage, the greater the chances that the consumer may want to skip ordiscontinue participating in a loyalty program due to the wait time.

Some solutions have been proposed to create messages for display toconsumers participating in loyalty programs in an expedited manner.Typical solutions involve, for example, providing consumers with genericmessages that were set by software or other mechanisms. These genericmessages are generally fixed/predefined and cannot be vared. Also, themessages are not directly linked to the activities of a specificconsumer. Consequently, these messages are not very effective becausethey are not personalized for the consumer and thus are not particularlyinformative with respect to the consumer's specific status in theloyalty program. Additionally, if messages are composed using variousdatabases residing on different servers distributed throughout theInternet, the time to compose messages increases, which furtherdecreases the value of providing messages to consumers.

Furthermore, if messages are provided at all, the messages are typicallyderived from content stored in the base device because storage space anddata access may be limited on the smartcard or portable device.Accordingly, existing messaging methods are relatively inflexible and donot fully use the advantages of providing a loyalty program.

Hence, it would be desirable to provide a system that is capable ofproviding messages to a consumer in an efficient and expedited mannerduring a purchase transaction, thereby allowing loyalty transactioninformation to be displayed at the point-of-sale.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for providingmessaging between a portable device and base device is provided. Themethod includes communicating one or more message codes maintained inthe portable device to the base device. The base device then composes amessage for a user of the portable device using a dictionary of messagecodes. The message codes have corresponding message values, which areused to generate the message for the one or more message codes. Thegenerated message is then provided to the user.

In one embodiment, a system for generating a message for a user of aportable device is provided. The system comprises: a base deviceconfigured to receive one or more message codes from the portabledevice; a dictionary having a plurality of message codes associated withthe base device, wherein the plurality of message codes correspond to aplurality of message words; a composer configured to compose the messagefrom the received one or more message codes using corresponding messagewords from the dictionary; and an interface device configured to providethe composed message to the user.

In another embodiment, a method for composing a message at a base devicefor a user of a portable device using a dictionary of message codes isprovided. The message codes having corresponding message values. Themethod comprises: receiving one or more message codes at the base devicefrom the portable device; generating the message from the received oneor more message codes using corresponding message values from thedictionary; and providing the generated message to the user.

Reference to the remaining portions of the specification, including thedrawings and claims, will realize other features and advantages of thepresent invention. Further features and advantages of the presentinvention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodimentsof the present invention, are described in detail below with respect toaccompanying drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical orfunctionally similar elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic diagram illustrating a system forcomposing a message according to one exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a table showing a sample list of message codes and theircorresponding values in a dictionary according to one exemplaryembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process for composingand providing a message according to one exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention in the form of one or more exemplary embodimentswill now be described. FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 for composing amessage according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.System 100 includes a portable device 102, a base device 104, adictionary 106, a composer 108, and an interface device 110.

Portable device 102 is a device that interfaces with base device 104.For example, portable device 102 may be a smartcard, cellular phone,personal digital assistant (PDA), pager, credit card, ATM card, digitaltablet, security badge, access badge, and the like. Information, such asa message code string, is included on portable device 102 and may beread from portable device 102 or communicated to base device 104.Examples of information including message code strings will be describedbelow.

Base device 104 is a device that interacts with portable device 102.Examples of base devices 104 include a point-of-sale (POS) device,cellular phone, PDA, computer, handheld specialized readers (e.g.,smartcard key tabs), set-top boxes connected to a TV, kiosks, securitysystem, access system, and the like. Base device 104 is configured tocommunicate with portable device 102 and more specifically to receive amessage code string from portable device 102.

Base device 104 and portable device 102 may interact directly with oneanother. For example, portable device 102 and base device 104 maydirectly communicate through a direct connection. In this example, ifportable device 102 is a smartcard and base device 104 is a POS device,the smartcard may be directly inserted into the POS device.Alternatively, portable device 102 and base device 104 may communicatethrough a communication medium, such as a wireless connection, wirelineconnection, the Internet, etc. Further, the communication may be throughan intermediate computing or networking device that facilitates thecommunication. For example, a smartcard may communicate with amobile-commerce server via a cell phone. In this case, a smartcard maybe inserted into the cellular phone with the cellular phonecommunicating with the mobile-commerce server through a wireless orinfrared (IR) connection. Additionally, a smartcard may be inserted intoa PDA with the PDA communicating with the mobile-commerce server. Itshould be noted that the communication methods described above are forillustration purposes only and that a person of ordinary skill in theart will appreciate other methods that can be used to achievecommunications between portable device 102 and base device 104. In oneembodiment, communications between portable device 102 and base device104 may be performed offline. In one embodiment, offline is wheremessaging is performed between portable device 102 and base device 104where base device 104 is not connected to a network, such as theInternet.

It should also be noted that a device may alternately play the role ofportable device 102 or base device 104 depending on the applicationunder which the device is being used. For example, a cellular phone mayfunction as base device 104 to receive or interface with a smartcard viaa contact reader, the smartcard being the portable device 102 in thisapplication; subsequently, the same cellular phone may function asportable device 102 to interface with a POS device via an RF, infrared,and/or bluetooth interface, the POS device being the base device 104 inthis second application.

Dictionary database 106 may include one or more dictionaries, forexample, dictionaries 124 a,b. Each dictionary 124 a,b is a database ofmessage codes and their corresponding values or meanings. Dictionarydatabase 106 may be embedded in base device 104. Also, dictionarydatabase 106 may be separate from base device 104 and accessible througha communication medium. For example, dictionary database 106 may belocalized in relation to base device 104 and accessible through anetwork, such as a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN),wireless network, wireline network, the Internet, and the like. Also,parts of dictionaries 124 a,b may be distributed among differentdevices. For example, part of dictionary 124 a may be located in basedevice 104 and part in dictionary database 106.

In one exemplary embodiment, each dictionary 124 a,b may be organized indata structures of message codes/words and their respective meanings.Additionally, multiple dictionaries may be accessible to base device 104and different versions of dictionaries may be used by base device 104.As will be further described below, one or more of the dictionaries 124a,b in the dictionary database 106 may be selected to allow a message tobe composed or generated from a number of message codes.

Composer 108 may be software, embedded software, dedicated hardware, orany combination thereof, that analyzes message codes and generates amessage by retrieving the appropriate values related to the messagecodes from dictionary 124 a. For illustrative purposes herein, only onedictionary 124 a is used to generate the message. Based on thedisclosure and teachings provided herein, it will be clear to a personof ordinary skill in the art that more than one dictionary may be usedto generate a message from the message codes. Composer 108 may beembedded in base device 104 or be accessible to base device 104. Oncethe message has been composed from the message codes by composer 108,composer 108 forwards the message to interface device 110. It should benoted that composer 108 may further use information from other sourcesor databases (not shown) to help compose or generate messages frommessage codes.

Interface device 110 receives the generated message from composer 108and provides the message to a user of portable device 102. For example,interface device 110 may display the message, print the message, orannounce the message audibly. If the message is audibly announced, asound, tone, voice, or the like may be used. Additionally, anycombination of methods for providing the message to the user may beused. For example, a sound and a displayed message may be used.Interface device 110 may also be part of base device 104 or be separatefrom base device 104 but coupled with base device 104. Examples ofinterface device 110 are a display screen, computer, printer, speaker,PDA, or any other device capable of providing a message to a user.

As mentioned above, message codes are included in portable device 102.In one exemplary embodiment, the message codes are strings of characterand/or symbols. Referring to FIG. 1, an example of a message code stringis message code string 112. As shown in FIG. 1, message code string 112includes the codes “01 FF 10 A5 02 A0 03 A6 04”. When portable device102 communicates with base device 104, message code string 112 iscommunicated to base device 104 by either base device 104 retrievingmessage code string 112 from portable device 102 or portable device 102forwarding message code string 112 to base device 104. Message codestring 112 includes a number of constituent message codes. Base device104 then forwards the message code string 112 to composer 108 foranalysis. Composer 108 analyzes message code string 112 using dictionary124 a. In this instance, dictionary 124 a is used as a default toanalyze message code string 112; however, as previously mentioned, oneor more dictionaries, for example, dictionaries 124 a,b, may be used forthis purpose. Composer 108 may be directed to select the appropriatedictionary by analyzing the message code string 112 or by followinginstructions provided by base device 104. Composer 108 assembles ordecodes the message codes into message words that have semantic valueusing values corresponding to the message codes in dictionary 124 a. Themessage words collectively form a message that is to be conveyed to auser of portable device 102. Messages may include various types ofinformation. For example, a message may include information associatedwith the service being provided to the user, such as, “100 pointsreceived, valid until Dec. 31, 2010”, “Smart Shopping now available atXYZ stores”, and “Welcome to the XYZ network”; and a message may alsoinclude marketing or solicitation information, such as, “Use your rewardpoints at participating ABC stores”.

The message codes may correspond to message words that serve differentfunctions. There are different categories of message words. For example,message words may be classified as constant message words, variablemessage words, administrative message words, and action message words.

Constant message words are message words that are constant. For example,constant message words are words, sentences, colors, graphics, or soundsequences, such as, message code “255”=“congratulations, you are nowparticipating in”; message code “A10F”=“three_standard_rings”; ormessage code “A75F”=“{HTML TAG} <TITLE>”. The message value“congratulations, you are now are participating in” represents aconstant string of words or a sentence. The message value“three_standard_rings” may indicate a constant sound sequence of threerings, and the message value “{HTML TAG} <TITLE>” may indicatedisplaying an HTML TAG of TITLE.

Variable message words refer to message words that may vary. Forexample, variable message words may provide a reference to informationcomputed during the transaction or unique information specific toportable device 102. For instance, message code“ABB0”=“remaining_value_on_electronic_purse”; message code“1234”=“account_number_used_during_the_transaction”; or message code“DDDD”=“current_date”, where the message value“remaining_value_on_electronic_purse” may indicate the remaining valueon an electronic account related to portable device 102; the messagevalue “account_number_used_during_the_transaction” may refer to theaccount number of the user of portable device 102 that is being usedduring the transaction; and the message value “current_date” refers to avariable that includes the value of the current date.

An administrative message word is a message word that is used to affectthe analysis of the message codes. For example, administrative messagewords may indicate the bit or byte length of message words, a command tointerpret the message codes with a basic or enhanced dictionary 106, acode to identify which type of base device 104 (e.g., POS, PC, phone,PDA, hand-held specialized readers) the message is applicable to, a codeto identify interface device 110 (display, printer) for which themessage code string applies, or a version of dictionary 106 that shouldbe used with message code string 112.

Each dictionary 124 a,b may include fields for different modes, such asa standard mode and an enhanced mode. In one exemplary embodiment, anadministrative message code may be used to designate the selection of aparticular mode depending on certain predetermined factors. For example,a standard mode may be used for a graphical display and an enhanced modemay be used for a printed message. Also, each dictionary 124 a,b mayinclude a default, or implicit mode which is to be used by the composerin absence of an administrative word identifying the selection of aparticular mode.

Action message words are used to direct base device 104 to takecorresponding actions as part of the transaction. Examples of actionmessage words include message code “XYZ”=“print_receipt_only”; messagecode“9999”=“log_message_on_base_device_for_delayed_reporting_to_service_host”;or message code “ABCD”=“update_message_string_in_card”. The messagevalue “print_receipt_only” may indicate the action of only printing areceipt using interface device 110, the message value“log_message_on_base_device_for_delayed_reporting_to_service_host”indicates the action of logging the message on base device 104 forsubsequent reporting, and the message value“update_message_code_string_in_card” may indicate the action of sendingan updated message code string to portable device 102 to replace messagecode string 112.

Data contained in portable device 102 may not be for the exclusive useof generating consumer messages. In one exemplary embodiment, data usedby portable device 102 for purposes other than messaging may also beread by or transmitted to base device 104 and used for composing amessage. For example, device information such as an application's ID(AID) in a smartcard may be a code string “A0 00 00 00 98 10 10 04” thatis typically used to identify that specific smartcard application; thisparticular code string may also be used to cause the generation of themessage “Visa Smart Loyalty Application Version 4” when read by ortransmitted to base device 104. Optionally, information may be enteredvia base device 104 and used as part of the composed message. Forexample, transactional information for a purchase, such as totalpurchase price, may be entered via based device 104 and included in themessage displayed to the user.

FIG. 2 is a table 118 showing a sample list of message codes and theircorresponding values in one dictionary 124 a according to one exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, table 118includes a code column 120 that includes message codes and a valuecolumn 122 that includes corresponding values for the message codes.

Message codes may be stored in a binary form, hexadecimal form, or anyother standardized format that is interpretable by base device 104and/or composer 108. Based on the disclosure and teachings providedherein, a person of ordinary skill in the art will know how to usedifferent formats to store the message codes depending on the systemdesign and requirements.

In one exemplary embodiment, some of the message codes are not uniformlypredefined and fixed across all dictionaries 124, but rather arespecifically identified by a dictionary associated with a particularbase device 104. In other words, the same message code does notnecessarily have the same meaning in different dictionaries 124 a,b.Accordingly, a message code stored in portable device 102 may havedifferent meanings in different base devices 104 depending on theassociated dictionary 124 a for each base device 104. For example, amessage code “1234” equals “congratulations, you have been entered intoour loyal consumer program and now have:” when base device 104 is a POSdevice, and the same message code may be interpreted as “loyal consumerpoints:” when base device 104 is a cellular phone with a small display.

Dictionary database 106 may also include multiple versions of adictionary 124 a,b. For example, base device 104 may be associated withmultiple interface devices 110 where different versions of dictionariesare used for the different interfaces. If a display and a printer areavailable, different messages may be provided to a user through thedifferent interfaces. Thus, composer 108 may compose a message from amessage code string “32 50 15 FF 0A” as “Welcome to the Smart ShoppingNetwork” on a printer interface device 110 and as a logo on aPoint-of-sale display interface device 110. In another example,different versions of dictionary 124 a,b may include versions withdifferent languages. In one exemplary embodiment, administrative messagecodes may be used to identify an appropriate dictionary version. Byusing different versions of dictionaries, different messages may becreated for different interface devices while maintaining the samemessage code at the same time, and thus simplifying data storage on theportable device.

In one example, the following message codes may be translateddifferently based on base device 104 and/or interface device 110, or aversion of dictionary 124. Table 1 illustrates an embodiment of thisexample.

TABLE 1 Message Code Dictionary Version Message 105 100 Good Morning 105101 Good AM 105 102 Bonjour 107 100 You are a winner 107 101 U R a wnr107 102 Vous etes un gagnant

Additionally, dictionaries 124 a,b in the dictionary database 106 may beupdated at any time. For example, message codes and/or message valuesmay be changed and new message codes and/or message values may be added.Updates may be provided periodically to dictionary database 106 in anumber of ways, for example, by a de-localized service management hostor server or other computing device used for the management of thedictionary database 106. Furthermore, updates may be performed on anautomated, pre-scheduled basis or in an ad hoc manner.

In addition, message code string 112 may be changed in portable device102 and new message code string may be added to portable device 102.Message code string may be changed or added during communicationsbetween portable device 102 and base device 104. For example, oncemessage code string 112 is composed into a message and the message isprovided to the user of portable device 102, base device 104 may updatemessage code string 112 in portable device 102 for use in futuretransactions or data exchanges. For example, if a user of portabledevice 102 has conducted a transaction, information relating to thattransaction will be included in message code string 112 as updated inportable device 102.

FIG. 3 illustrates a simplified flowchart of a process for composing andproviding a message according to one exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. The flowchart will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

In step 200, portable device 102 couples to base device 104. Asmentioned above, portable device 102 may couple directly to base device104, through a communication medium, through an intermediate computingor networking device, etc.

In step 202, portable device 102 communicates a message code string 112to base device 104. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, “01 FF 10 A5 02 A003 A6 04” is communicated to base device 104.

In step 204, base device 104 receives message code string 112. In step206, composer 108 then analyzes the message codes in message code string112 using dictionary 124 a. In analyzing the message codes, composer 108may determine based on an administrative message code which one or moreof the dictionaries 124 a in dictionary database 106 are to be used andusing the appropriate dictionary(ies) 124 retrieve the correspondingapplicable message code values.

In step 208, composer 108 generates a message from message code string112. Assuming table 118 is used as dictionary 124 a, the messagegenerated from the corresponding message codes is “Smart loyaltyprogram: 3 of 5 visits to XYZ store. Earn $10 off your 6th purchase.”This assumes that the message code FF corresponds to the variable ofthree.

At step 210, the message is then provided to interface device 110 forcommunication to a user of portable device 102. For example, the messagemay be printed, displayed, or audibly communicated to the user throughinterface device 110.

In step 212, an updated message code string 116 may be provided toportable device 102. Updated message code string 116 may correspond to amessage for any future communications between portable device 102 andbase device 104. An updated message code string 116 may be appropriatedue to the recent activity or transaction conducted by the user ofportable device. The message corresponding to the updated message codestring 116 may also be forwarded to interface device 110 for display tothe user.

One example using an exemplary embodiment of the present invention willnow be described. A user is shopping in a first store and has a portabledevice 102. While browsing at the first store, the user wants to findout the latest account information relating to the user's loyaltyprogram at the first store. To find that latest account information, theuser couples portable device 102 to base device 104. Consequently,message code string 112 is communicated to base device 104 and a messageis composed from the message code string 112 using composer 108 anddictionary 124 a. The message corresponding to the message code string112 is displayed on interface device 110 for viewing by the user. Forexample, the message may say “200 additional points will earn you aspecial offer”.

Subsequently, the user decides to make a purchase at the first store.The purchase is worth two hundred (200) points. Once again, the usercouples portable device 102 to base device 104 to complete the purchase.Portable device 102 and base device 104 then communicate with eachother. During their communication, base device 104 sends an updatedmessage code string 116 to portable device 102. At the same time, amessage corresponding to updated message code string 116 is displayed ona screen connected to base device 104. Based on the purchase that theuser just concluded, the message may include loyalty transactioninformation indicating that the user has just received a certain numberof reward points for the purchase; the message may further include amarketing message informing the user that the reward points are validtoward special offers at a second store. For example, the message maysay “your purchase just earned you 200 points and qualifies you for aspecial offer which may be redeemed at a second store”. Additionally, areceipt may also be printed from a printer. The receipt may includesinformation relating to the loyalty program printed in a differentformat than that shown on the screen connected to base device 104.

The user then goes to a mall where the second store is located. The usermay double check the message that corresponds to updated message codestring 116 using base device 104. Base devices 104 may be locatedthroughout the mall. The user then proceeds to the second store afterreading the message and connects with base device 104 located in thesecond store to find out about the special offer. Information relatingto the special offer is specific to the second store and is madeavailable through base devices 104 located throughout the second store.

The user then proceeds to make a purchase and at checkout, again couplesportable device 102 to base device 104 located at the second store.Updated message code string 116 is again composed into a message bycomposer 108 using dictionary 124. Based on the purchase information,the composed message indicates that the user has earned a number ofpoints on this purchase and that the special offer has been extended fora certain time period. Information relating to the purchase and theextended time period is then encoded and sent in another updated messagecode string 116 to portable device 102.

After leaving the second store, the user forgets how long the extendedtime period is for the special offer. The user can couple portabledevice 102 to base device 104, such as, a PC reader located at theuser's home to quickly access that information on portable device 102without having to connect to the Internet. The foregoing is merely anillustration of one of many applications that may utilize the presentinvention. A person of ordinary skill in the art will know of otherapplications in which the present invention can be deployed.

Furthermore, based on the disclosure and teachings provided herein, itwill be clear to a person of ordinary skill in the art that manyadvantages are provided by various exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention. For example, messages for a consumer involved in a loyaltytransaction using loyalty information pertinent to the transaction andthe consumer may be rapidly created and provided to the consumer. Amessage code is included in a portable device in a very compact form,which keeps memory requirements minimal and communication times fast.Additionally, the use of the logically organized composition datastructure for a dictionary 124 ensures rapid composition of messagesfrom message codes. Also, various types of message words may be useddepending on different kinds of transactions and different kinds ofinterface devices. Thus, by relying on the content of a specificdictionary 124 associated with a particular base device 104 to determinethe semantic value of the message codes, flexibility is introducedbetween different portable devices 102, base devices 104, and interfacedevices 110.

The above description is illustrative but not restrictive. Manyvariations of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in theart upon review of the disclosure. The scope of the invention should,therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description,but instead should be determined with reference to the pending claimsalong with their full scope or equivalents.

1. A method for composing a message at a base device for a user of aportable device using a dictionary of message codes, the message codeshaving corresponding message values, the method comprising: receivingone or more message codes at the base device from the portable device,the one or more message codes being stored in the portable device;generating the message from the received one or more message codes usingcorresponding message values from the dictionary; and providing thegenerated message to the user.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: generating the message using information retrieved from theportable device.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:communicating one or more message codes to the portable device.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: determining a version for thedictionary, wherein the step of generating the message is performed withthe determined version for the dictionary.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein the received one or more message codes include a message codethat corresponds to an administrative message value; and furthercomprising: using the administrative message value in at least one ofthe step of generating the message and the step of providing thegenerated message.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein how the generatedmessage is provided depends on the administrative message value.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein providing the generated message comprises atleast one of displaying the message, printing the message, and providingan audible message.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the dictionary islocally accessible to the base device.
 9. The method of claim 1, whereinthe dictionary resides within the base device.
 10. The method of claim1, wherein the method is used in a loyalty program for conveying loyaltyinformation relating to the loyalty program to the user.
 11. The methodof claim 1, wherein generating the message comprising dynamicallycreating the message for a transaction.
 12. A system for generating amessage for a user of a portable device, the system comprising: a basedevice configured to receive one or more message codes from the portabledevice, the one or more message codes being stored in the portabledevice; a dictionary having a plurality of message codes associated withthe base device, wherein the plurality of message codes correspond to aplurality of message words; a composer configured to compose the messagefrom the received one or more message codes using corresponding messagewords from the dictionary; and an interface device configured to providethe composed message to the user.
 13. The system of claim 12, whereinthe dictionary comprises one or more versions.
 14. The system of claim13, wherein the interface device comprises a plurality of messageconveying devices, wherein a version of the dictionary is associatedwith a corresponding message conveying device.
 15. The system of claim12, wherein the portable device comprises at least one of a smart card,a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a pager, a credit card,an ATM card, a digital tablet, a security badge, and an access badge.16. The system of claim 12, wherein the base device comprises at leastone of a point-of-sale (POS) device, a cellular phone, a PDA, acomputer, a handheld specialized reader, a set-top box connected to aTV, a kiosk, a security system, and an access system.
 17. The system ofclaim 12, wherein the plurality of message words comprise semanticvalues.
 18. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of messagewords comprise at least one of constant words, variable words,administrative words, and action words.
 19. The system of claim 12,wherein the interface device comprises a display device configured todisplay the message.
 20. The system of claim 12, wherein the interfacedevice comprises a printer configured to print the message.
 21. Thesystem of claim 12, wherein the interface device comprises an announcingdevice configured to announce the message.
 22. The system of claim 12,wherein the one or more message codes comprise a representation ofinformation associated with the portable device.
 23. The system of claim22, wherein the representation of information is not exclusively forgenerating the message.
 24. The system of claim 12, the dictionary islocally accessible to the base device.
 25. The system of claim 12,wherein the dictionary resides within the base device.
 26. The system ofclaim 12, wherein the system is used in a loyalty program for conveyingloyalty information relating to the loyalty program to the user.
 27. Thesystem of claim 12, wherein the composer is configured to dynamicallycreate the message for a transaction.
 28. A method for providingmessaging between a portable device and a base device, the methodcomprising: maintaining a message code string that is stored in theportable device, the message code string including one or more messagecodes; and communicating the message code string to the base device;wherein the message code string is usable to generate a message for auser using message words from one of a plurality of dictionaries, themessage words corresponding to the one or more message codes in themessage code string.
 29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:receiving an updated message code string in the portable device.
 30. Themethod of claim 28, further comprising: conveying the message to theuser.
 31. The method of claim 28, further comprising: providing amessage code in the message code string indicating which one of theplurality of dictionaries is to be used to generate the message.
 32. Themethod of claim 28, wherein the message code string comprises at leastone of a constant code, a variable code, an administrative code, and anaction code.
 33. The method of claim 32, wherein the variable code isused to represent information computed during a transaction orinformation that is specific to the portable device, base device, orunique transaction between the portable device and base device.
 34. Themethod of claim 32, wherein the administrative code is used to determinehow the message is to be generated.
 35. The method of claim 32, whereinthe action code is used to direct the base device to take a specificcourse of action.
 36. The method of claim 28, wherein the portabledevice comprises at least one of a smart card, a cellular phone, apersonal digital assistant, a pager, a credit card, an ATM card, adigital tablet, a security badge, and an access badge.
 37. The method ofclaim 28, wherein the message code string is used to dynamicallygenerate the message for a transaction.
 38. A method for providingmessages to a user participating in a loyalty program, comprising:maintaining a message code string that is stored in a portable device,the portable device having information identifying the user and theloyalty program, the message code string including one or more messagecodes; upon conducting a transaction related to the loyalty program,communicating the message code string from the portable device to a basedevice; and directing the base device to generate a message based on themessage code string by using one or more of a plurality of dictionaries,each of the plurality of dictionaries having a plurality of messagecodes and their corresponding message words.
 39. The method of claim 38further comprising: conveying the message to the user.
 40. The method ofclaim 38, further comprising: forwarding device information relating tothe portable device to the base device; and using the device informationto generate the message.
 41. The method of claim further comprising:inputting transactional information related to the transaction into thebase device; and using the transactional information to generate themessage.
 42. The method of claim 38, wherein the message code stringincludes a message code indicating which one or more of the plurality ofdictionaries are to be used to generate the message.
 43. The method ofclaim 38, wherein the message code string includes at least one of avariable message code, an administrative message code and an actionmessage code.
 44. The method of claim 43, wherein the variable messagecode is used to represent information computed during the transaction orinformation that is specific to the portable device, base device, orunique transaction between the portable device and the base device. 45.The method of claim 43, wherein the administrative message code is usedto determine how the message is to be generated.
 46. The method of claim45, wherein the administrative message code is used to identify aninterface device configured to convey the generated message to the user.47. The method of claim 43, wherein the action message code is used todirect the base device to take a specific course of action.
 48. Themethod claim 47, wherein the specific course of action includesdisplaying the message to the user via a graphical interface or printingthe message on a receipt.
 49. The method of claim 38, wherein a firstmessage code has a first corresponding message word in a firstdictionary, and the first message code has a second correspondingmessage word in a second dictionary, the first and second correspondingmessage words being different from each other.
 50. The method of claim38, further comprising: upon concluding the transaction, communicatingan updated message code string to the portable device.
 51. The method ofclaim 38, wherein the message generated is generated dynamically for thetransaction.
 52. A system for providing messages to a user, comprising:a portable device having a message code string residing therein, themessage code string including one or more message codes; a dictionarydatabase having a plurality of dictionaries, each dictionary having aplurality of message codes and their corresponding message words; and aplurality of base devices, each base device configured to: communicatewith the portable device and receive the message code string; compose amessage from the message code string using corresponding message wordsfrom one or more of the plurality of dictionaries; and communicate themessage to the user.
 53. The system of claim 52, wherein: uponconducting a transaction, the message code string is communicated fromthe portable device to a selected base device; and the selected basedevice composes a message from the message code string usingcorresponding message words from one or more of the plurality ofdictionaries associated with the selected base device.
 54. The system ofclaim 53, further comprising: upon concluding the transaction, anupdated message code string is communicated to the portable device fromthe selected base device.
 55. The system of claim 53, wherein themessage code string includes at least one of a variable message code, anadministrative message code and an action message code.
 56. The systemof claim 55, wherein the variable message code is used to representinformation computed during the transaction or information that isspecific to the portable device.
 57. The system of claim 55, wherein theadministrative message code is used to determine how the message is tobe generated.
 58. The system of claim 55, wherein the administrativemessage code is used to identify an interface device configured toconvey the generated message to the user.
 59. The system of claim 55,wherein the administrative message code is used to identify which one ormore of the plurality of dictionaries associated with the selected basedevice are to be used to generate the message.
 60. The system of claim55, wherein the action message code is used to direct the selected basedevice to take a specific course of action.
 61. The system of claim 53,wherein the selected base device forwards the message to an interfacedevice for communication to the user.
 62. The system of claim 61,wherein the interface device is configured to display the message to theuser.
 63. The system of claim 61, wherein the interface device isconfigured to print the message on a receipt.
 64. The system of claim52, wherein the portable device comprises at least one of a smart card,a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a pager, a credit card,an ATM card, a digital tablet, a security badge, and an access badge.65. The system of claim 52, wherein the plurality of base devicescomprise at least one of a point-of-sale (POS) device, a cellular phone,a PDA, a computer, a handheld specialized reader, a set-top boxconnected to a TV, a kiosk, a security system, and an access system. 66.The system of claim 52, wherein a first base device in the plurality ofbase devices composes a first message using the message code string anda second base device in the plurality of base devices composes a secondmessage using the message code string, wherein the first message isdifferent from the second message.
 67. A method for providing customizedmessages to a user, the method comprising: during a transaction betweena portable device and a base device, receiving one or more message codesfrom a portable device, the one or more message codes being stored inthe portable device; analyzing the one or more message codes todetermine one or more message values that correspond to the one or moremessage codes; and dynamically creating a customized message using theone or more message values, wherein the customized message isspecifically created for the transaction.
 68. The method of claim 67,further comprising: receiving the one or more message codes for a secondtransaction; analyzing the one or more message codes to determine one ormore message values that correspond to the one or more message codes;and dynamically creating a second customized message using the one ormore message values, wherein the customized message is specificallycreated for the second transaction, the second customized message beingdifferent from the first customized message.
 69. The method of claim 67,further comprising: providing a plurality of dictionaries; anddetermining a dictionary in the plurality of dictionaries to use in theanalyzing step, wherein using a first dictionary results in creating afirst customized message and using a second dictionary results increating a second customized message.
 70. The method of claim 67,farther comprising outputting the customized message.
 71. The method ofclaim 70, wherein outputting the customized message comprising:analyzing the one or more message codes to determine one or more outputmethods; and outputting the customized message using the determined oneor more output methods.
 72. The method of claim 71, wherein output thecustomized message comprises outputting the message using a first outputmethod in the one or more output methods and a second output method inthe one or more output methods.
 73. The method of claim 67, furthercomprising updating the one or more message codes stored in the portabledevice.
 74. The method of claim 67, wherein the one or more messagecodes includes at least one of a variable message code, anadministrative message code and an action message code.
 75. The methodof claim 74, wherein the variable message code is used to representinformation computed during the transaction or information that isspecific to the portable device, base device, or unique transactionbetween the portable device and the base device.
 76. The method of claim74, wherein the administrative message code is used to determine how themessage is to be generated.
 77. The method of claim 74, wherein theadministrative message code is used to identify an interface deviceconfigured to convey the generated message to the user.
 78. The methodof claim 74, wherein the action message code is used to direct the basedevice to take a specific course of action.